Wild Horse Week-Running Wild and Free

Wild Horse Week-Running Wild and Free

I have to think that part of the sheer joy of being a wild horse is the chance to run wild and free, whenever they want. For me as an observer, it is definitely sheer joy.

Most anytime while watching the horses, a couple of stallions will start chasing each other, or a horse will come running because it got left behind when the herd moved on.

Sometimes, honestly, I think they run simply because they can.

The first evening we were there, we drove out to the herd to get photos. We could tell right away though that they were on the move. They were heading in the general direction of the watering hole, so we jumped in the truck, drove around and down the road, and positioned ourselves in front of the herd. By this time they were all running. Talk about a site to see! My biggest regret was the lighting. It was later in the evening, and there were clouds in the sky as well. So horrid lighting conditions, but I was a crazy shutter clicker anyway.

The gray and white horse in the front, is who we started calling “The Man.” Clearly the lead stallion of the whole herd. He led them to water this day, and the next. The darker horse behind him is the second in command, then so on down the hierarchy line.

Imagine in your mind the sound of hoof beats in the dirt, the swirling dust, the exhilaration of this whole moment. I have to tell you, I was in heaven.

They ran right past us. It was funny, because as some of them got near us, they would speed up to get past.

It was getting pretty dusty towards the end of the herd.

This is the view of them going the other way.

This is another old stallion, and another of Al’s favorites. He has a bit of a limp, although he seems a little less limpy than when we saw him in the spring. He is always in the back of the herd, partly because he can’t move that fast, and partly because his place in the hierarchy is not what it use to be. He is a great looking guy though. Blue eyes, kinda gnarly and scarred, just an awesome horse.

So sometimes they run to get somewhere, and sometimes….just because they can.

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Wild Horse Week-Running Wild and Free — 13 Comments

Sigh.
Swoon.
Faint.
Bliss.
Happiness before I run off to work, and I “run” because I have to, but to run because you can must be an exhilarating feeling.

Mary, YOUR CAPTURES ARE A THRILL! I love the stories behind these images of “The Man” and his clan and of the older white horse who back in the day was the boss….I ABSOLUTELY LOVE each image, but especially the one with both the brown and white horses: chocolate and vanilla!

Bravo Mary. Even in less than optimal lighting conditions, you caught their beauty and spirit, lights and shadows and perfect movements. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

This herd is in good shape really. The only ribs I saw were on the older horses, so that’s pretty good. This area is windy, and pretty flat, so I am guessing they can paw down to grass pretty easy. I would go give them hay though, if I could. Lol.

I would too :-) I’m guessing that’s forbidden. I would love to set up my own refuge and provide food for them, while still allowing them to run free. Now I just need a lot of money and thousands of acres out west :-)

I’d never have known you had a challenge with the lighting, these pictures are so awesome. What a wonderfully healthy life it is to run when you want/need and just know when it’s time to go to the back of the herd. I love the random colorings of these horses, it’s so much better and more interesting than the regulated breeding to get “show horse quality” stock. Don’t get me wrong, I love horses of all types, but wildly random mixes are my favorites. I’m SO enjoying these photos.